[Link] The Pacific is in danger of becoming a semi-narco region

Read: 28/11/2021 www.theguardian.com

Four years ago I stood in front of a top level security conference and warned that we have just a few years to get on top of the problem of drugs being trafficked through the Pacific region or it could turn into a semi-narco region, controlled by criminal syndicates.

asia asia drugs aus drugs aus regional relations australia australia drugs cartels cocaine criminal groups drug routes drug war drugs methamphetamine narcos new zealand new zealand drugs opinion pieces pacific islands south america south america drugs south pacific us drugs usa

[Link] Tonga’s drug crisis: Why a tiny Pacific island is struggling with a meth epidemic

Read: 28/11/2021 www.theguardian.com

After more than four decades spent living in New Zealand, Ned Cook knew it was time to return to his home country of Tonga. His country was in the grip of a methamphetamine epidemic that was ripping families apart and overrunning the country’s hospitals and jails.

asia asia drugs child development children cocaine counselling crimes against children death domestic violence drug addiction drug busts drug dealing drug deaths drug laws drug markets drug rehabilitation drug routes drug therapy drug use drug violence drugs drugs and children gender based crime gender based violence gender inequity interviews manslaughter methamphetamine murder pacific islands prisons protecting children psychology public health public health crisis respite substance abuse suicide tonga tonga courts

[Link] The Digital Colonialism Behind .tv and .ly

Read: 23/11/2021 www.wired.com

In late 2018, the tiny South Pacific island of Niue filed a lawsuit worth more than its entire economy. The case, which is under litigation in Stockholm, hinges on the rights to .nu, one of those country-specific extensions that appends a URL.

colonisation domain registrars domains international law international politics internet internet history internet infrastructure island nations islands niue pacific islands verisign

[Link] A tiny island nation has put the rights to .tv up for grabs – but what’s this? Problematic contract clauses? Again?

Read: 22/11/2021 www.theregister.com

Analysis One of the internet’s most lucrative and high-profile registry contracts is up for grabs – and once again the bidding process appears to be highly problematic. The contract to run .tv has been held by dot-com operator Verisign for 20 years.

.co .tv california california law colombia domain registrars domains godaddy icann internet internet history internet infrastructure island nations islands oceania pacific islands pacific ocean polynesia south america tuvalu us courts us law usa verisign web services